Chen'er and Xiao Mo said their goodbyes and walked toward the back of the shop. The Wen Ningxuan brothers also returned. Lin He went into the back courtyard, entered her room, set down her belongings, and half-reclined on a chair, her mind still far from settled. She didn't know if she should agree to Wen Ningxuan's request. Through Zi Yu's analyses over the past few days, she knew she did indeed have feelings for Wen Ningxuan. Moreover, aside from his somewhat aloof disposition, he was truly a fine man.

However, she wasn't confident she could integrate into the life of a large, established family. If it were just a few days ago, she would have flatly refused if Wen Ningxuan had asked for the sachet. But after hearing about him from Zi Yu, Lin He felt the distance between her and Wen Ningxuan wasn't so vast anymore; it had drawn closer. Coupled with the fact that she truly couldn't bear to reject his request, and considering she had accepted so many things from him initially, a place for him had always existed in her heart. Since that was the case, why not follow what her heart dictated?

In the end, Lin He decided to try developing this affection for the sake of the feeling in her heart, for Wen Ningxuan. To hell with any prestigious family, to hell with having many relatives—in two lifetimes, she had finally met someone she considered good enough, and she couldn't let him slip away just like that. If Wen Ningxuan’s performance on his birthday met her expectations, she would give him the sachet; otherwise, they would act as if nothing had happened. Lin He smiled at the thought of that scene.

Furthermore, every time Lin He looked at Wen Ningxuan's cool, distant face, she found it genuinely hard to say no. Besides, she was a woman of the new era; since she was genuinely interested in Wen Ningxuan, why should she refuse? Lin He gathered her courage and decided to accept this relationship, forbidding herself from retreating. No matter how difficult things became later, she would strive for it, for that was the kind of person Lin He fundamentally was.

She acted on her decision immediately and planned to start making a sachet for Wen Ningxuan. Making a sachet was very simple embroidery work; Lin He could already produce a beautiful sachet by the age of seven. Yet, when making this sachet for him, Lin He spent an entire afternoon just selecting the fabric. She thought this would be the first gift she gave Wen Ningxuan, making it highly memorable, so naturally, she wanted to make it as perfect as possible.

When Zi Yu pushed the door open, she saw Lin He frowning at times and rubbing her forehead at others while looking at the large pile of cloth spread before the table, appearing utterly distressed. Zi Yu smiled silently and said, "Miss, what are you trying to make? Why are you laying out so much fabric?"

"Zi Yu, you've arrived at the perfect time. Your Second Young Master requested a sachet. Look, which of these fabrics would be suitable for making a sachet for him?" Lin He looked as if she had found a savior.

Zi Yu was not surprised. Although Zi Yu had been with Chen'er and the others looking at things in the street, she had kept an eye on them the whole time. Moreover, being a martial artist, her hearing was naturally sharper than that of ordinary people. When Wen Ningxuan asked Lin He for the sachet, Zi Yu had seen Lin He unsure how to answer and had deliberately interrupted their conversation to rescue her.

Zi Yu, having always served as a maid, naturally knew how to read people. Besides, she had been with Lin He for several years and knew that Lin He was actually fond of Wen Ningxuan, she just hadn't realized it herself. Zi Yu sincerely hoped that Lin He and the Second Young Master could be together. The Second Young Master was cold and reserved in demeanor, but her young lady was gentle and sincere with people. Such a pair would surely find happiness together.

Zi Yu walked to Lin He’s side and said with a smile, "The Second Young Master is a man, so the color of the fabric for the sachet shouldn't be too bright. How about this piece of dark cyan? The color is quite suitable, and the material is good, very durable. The Second Young Master can use it for a long time. Miss, what do you think?"

When Lin He saw the dark cyan fabric in Zi Yu's hand, she agreed it was indeed very nice. This color wouldn't be too vibrant for a man, nor would it appear overly dull. She took it, intending to use this fabric for Wen Ningxuan's sachet.

Zi Yu watched Lin He, smiling, "Miss, if the Second Young Master saw you looking this nervous, you wouldn't even need to give him the sachet; even if you just made one from any scrap of cloth, he would be grinning from ear to ear."

Lin He’s face instantly flushed. She lightly smacked Zi Yu’s forehead, saying, "You wicked girl, how dare you tease me! Be careful, or I’ll marry you off haphazardly one of these days."

Zi Yu laughed, "I wouldn't dare, Miss. Please don't marry me off; I still need to stay by your side."

Lin He smiled, then picked up her needle and thread to start the sachet. After spending the whole afternoon on it, the sachet was finally complete. That afternoon, Lin He finally understood the feeling of her dormitory mates in college when they knitted scarves and sweaters for their boyfriends. Back then, the lights in the dormitory would go out at eleven every night, but those girls, in order to knit for their boyfriends, would light candles or use flashlights to continue knitting past midnight, all while looking utterly delighted, not complaining at all. She realized that when you do something for someone you care about, your mindset is different; even if it's hard work, your heart is happy.

After finishing the sachet in the afternoon, she sewed a pillowcase under the lamplight in the evening. Chen'er, noticing Lin He hadn't left the room since returning from the street, felt curious. She went to Lin He’s room and, seeing her embroidering, asked curiously, "Eldest Sister, what are you making? Why have you stayed in your room for half the day?"

Chen'er looked at the pillowcase in Lin He's hands, finding it strange. This small, square, pocket-like thing—she couldn't figure out what it was for. Zi Yu called out from the side, "Miss Chen'er, your elder sister is making a pillow; don't disturb her. It will be done soon."

"Pillows look like this? I've never seen one before," Chen'er asked, confused.

"Miss says this is a down pillow; it’s very comfortable to sleep on. This is just the outer fabric cover. After it’s sewn, we still need to stuff the duck down inside," Zi Yu explained.

Chen'er was still confused but became curious about the pillow. So, she sat down next to Zi Yu, watching Lin He sew. Sewing the pillowcase was easy; it was just simple needlework. Before long, Lin He finished sewing. Zi Yu brought in the prepared duck down and helped stuff it in, making the pillow plump. Lin He figured it was about right and then sewed the opening shut. And just like that, a down pillow was made. Touching it, it was indeed very comfortable, soft, and emitted a faint scent of mint.

Chen'er remarked, "Sister, who is this pillow for? Is it for Eldest Brother? The color doesn't seem like something you would use."

"Oh, no, someone commissioned me to make it." Lin He had already prepared an excuse. As for her relationship with Wen Ningxuan, Lin He didn't want everyone to know about it so soon, especially since people in this era were not as open-minded as in her previous life. (To be continued)